Armenia and Azerbaijan have held discussions on connecting their energy systems and the possibility of purchasing electricity from each other when necessary. Armenian Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Davit Khudatyan made the remarks while speaking to journalists ahead of the COP17 Leaders’ Summit.
The minister noted that the October 8 meeting in Goris between officials responsible for the energy sectors of Armenia and Azerbaijan was the second discussion of its kind. He did not rule out the possibility of Armenia purchasing electricity from Azerbaijan, Factor.am reported.
“We have examined the existing infrastructure during this period. With minor investments, it is now ready, and we can move to a more practical stage. Armenia’s strategy is to connect to neighboring countries’ power systems through as many routes and with as much transmission capacity as possible, as we are doing with Iran and Georgia,” Khudatyan explained.
The minister linked the potential need to purchase electricity from Azerbaijan in the future to a significant increase in domestic electricity demand, driven by the development of artificial intelligence data processing centers and industrial enterprises.
Khudatyan also addressed plans to construct a new nuclear power plant in Armenia, outlining the process of selecting possible technological solutions.
According to him, while the focus had previously been primarily on constructing small modular reactors with capacities of 400–450 megawatts, proposals for nuclear power plants with other generating capacities are now also being examined.
“By early 2027, we will have made a final decision on the model, announce it and move to the practical stage of design and construction. In the meantime, the operating life of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant has been extended by another 10 years, and it will continue operating until a new nuclear power plant is connected to the system,” the minister emphasized.
Earlier, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had announced that the government had decided to build a small modular nuclear power plant. However, during a press briefing in early October, Pashinyan said the planned small modular facility might not meet the country’s needs. He did not rule out constructing a larger, 1,000-megawatt nuclear power plant, an option proposed by Rosatom.
